Conferences

Among the most interesting discoveries in recent decades, the one that cellular DNA does not appear as a shapeless tangle, but rather is arranged into discrete "geographic" territories may be considered truly revolutionary. The first to suggest these chromosome "maps" was Thomas Cremer, a scientist whose studies represent a milestone in the fields of biology and genetics. Cremer gave a public lecture at SISSA, on Wednesday October 23.

Until a short time ago scientists thought it was impossible to observe objects smaller than 200 nanometres under an optical microscope. Stefan Hell, a physicist of the Max Plank Institute, found a way to overcome this limit, inventing a method to observe biological tissues down to the molecular scale. The physicist talked about his research at a public conference at SISSA.

Quantum mechanics has shown to man the limits of rational thought and in the same way as other great scientific revolutions has changed his role within Nature. A theme that has been addressed on March 20th by Sergio Doplicher in a public conference held at the International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA) of Trieste.

The equations of General Relativity have been solved only in very simple cases. Frans Pretorius of Princeton University held at SISSA a public conference to illustrate the innovative method he has employed to obtain solutions of Einstein's General Relativity in realistic problems for modern astrophysics like, for instance, the collision of black holes.

Empathy is what makes us human: it is the ability to reflect ourselves in other people's emotions and what creates that fundamental cohesion at the basis of our society. The ability to be empathic originates in our brain, in ancient and basic structures making up the material of which even very complex forms of empathy are made.